Neptune wants spotlight on rum in premium spirits boom

BySonya Hook

| 23 November, 2018

Neptune Rum, which claims to be “The World’s most awarded rum of 2018”, is gearing up for a full UK launch.

The rum, which is created from pure sugar cane molasses at Four Square Distillery in Barbados, is both smooth pot and column distilled before being aged in American Bourbon Oak casks for up to eight years.

Founder, Richard Davies, told DRN: “We did a soft launch in 2017 but this is the next step to bring it to the European market and now we have the proper funding in place to do so. The aim from the start was to create a very smooth and premium rum, which could be drunk neat, on the rocks, with a mixer or in cocktails. We have also partnered with Fever-Tree, and in particular linking our rum with their Madagascan Cola.

“The rum category is doing really well in the UK and we think this brand will appeal to whisky drinkers looking for something different, and then through our partnership with Fever-Tree we also have drinks using their Spiced Orange Ginger Ale, Smoky Ginger Ale and Ginger Beer, which should give added appeal to people who might like a longer drink.

“The gin revolution has helped pave the way for premium spirits but we think the public is now realising there are alternatives out there to gin.

“The next step for us is all about creating brand awareness in the on and off-trade.”

Neptune Rum currently has listings with Master of Malt, Amazon and 31 Dover, and it has a retail price of £34.95.

The rum won Best British Rum Brand 2018 in The Golden Barrel Awards and Barbados Rum of the Year 2018. It was also awarded double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.